2020–21 Toronto Raptors season
The 2020–21 Toronto Raptors season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 2019–20 Raptors finished the season with a 53–19 record (in a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Boston Celtics.
2020–21 Toronto Raptors season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Nick Nurse |
General manager | Bobby Webster |
President | Masai Ujiri |
Owners | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment |
Arena | Amalie Arena[1][2] |
Results | |
Record | 27–45 (.375) |
Place | Division: 5th (Atlantic) Conference: 12th (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | TSN Sportsnet |
For the 2020–21 season, the Raptors played a shortened 72-game season, as the season start was delayed until December. The Raptors needed a temporary home arena as a result of travel restrictions placed by the Canadian government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 20, the Raptors announced that they would be beginning the 2020–21 season at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, (the home of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning); they also considered the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville (home of the Nashville Predators), the KeyBank Center in Buffalo (home of the Buffalo Sabres), the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, the Prudential Center in Newark (home of the New Jersey Devils), or the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville (home of the Louisville Cardinals).[3][4] This would be the first season since 1995 (prior to the expansion of the Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies) not to have NBA regular-season games played in Canada following the Raptors' announcement on February 11, 2021 that they will finish the 2020–21 season in Tampa, as a result of further border restrictions. It was also the first time since 2007 an NBA team has been temporarily displaced from their home city since the New Orleans Hornets were relocated to Oklahoma City due to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina on stadiums in 2005. With a few exceptions, the Raptors played home games behind closed doors for the duration of the season. As with the Toronto Blue Jays (and unlike the Hornets) the Raptors did not change their geographical name on account of their temporary re-location.
The Raptors struggled with injuries throughout the season. On May 10, the Raptors were eliminated from playoff contention, ending their seven-year playoff streak and suffered their worst record since the 2011–12 season.[5] This was the first season under Nurse where the Raptors missed the playoffs.
This was the final season as a Raptor for longtime point guard and six-time NBA All-Star Kyle Lowry, who signed with the Miami Heat in August 2021.[6]
Draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 29 | Malachi Flynn | PG | USA | San Diego State |
2 | 59 | Jalen Harris | SG | USA | Nevada |
The Raptors held one first-round pick and one second-round pick in the draft. Because the Raptors had the second-best record in the league, their selections were made at 29th in the first and second round, respectively. With the 29th pick, they selected Malachi Flynn.[7] With the 59th pick, they selected Jalen Harris.[8]
Roster
2020–21 Toronto Raptors roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Standings
Division
Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c − Philadelphia 76ers | 49 | 23 | .681 | – | 29–7 | 20–16 | 10–2 | 72 |
x – Brooklyn Nets | 48 | 24 | .667 | 1.0 | 28–8 | 20–16 | 8–4 | 72 |
x – New York Knicks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 25–11 | 16–20 | 4–8 | 72 |
x – Boston Celtics | 36 | 36 | .500 | 13.0 | 21–15 | 15–21 | 4–8 | 72 |
Toronto Raptors | 27 | 45 | .375 | 22.0 | 16–20 | 11–25 | 4–8 | 72 |
Conference
Eastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | c − Philadelphia 76ers * | 49 | 23 | .681 | – | 72 |
2 | x – Brooklyn Nets | 48 | 24 | .667 | 1.0 | 72 |
3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 46 | 26 | .639 | 3.0 | 72 |
4 | x – New York Knicks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
5 | y – Atlanta Hawks * | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
6 | x – Miami Heat | 40 | 32 | .556 | 9.0 | 72 |
7 | x – Boston Celtics | 36 | 36 | .500 | 13.0 | 72 |
8 | x – Washington Wizards | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
9 | pi – Indiana Pacers | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
10 | pi – Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 39 | .458 | 16.0 | 72 |
11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 41 | .431 | 18.0 | 72 |
12 | Toronto Raptors | 27 | 45 | .375 | 22.0 | 72 |
13 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 50 | .306 | 27.0 | 72 |
14 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 51 | .292 | 28.0 | 72 |
15 | Detroit Pistons | 20 | 52 | .278 | 29.0 | 72 |
Notes
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
- c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- pb – Clinched play-in spot
- o – Eliminated from playoff contention
- * – Division leader
Record vs opponents
Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Division | Northwest Division | ||||||
Team | Home | Road | Team | Home | Road | ||
Boston | 114–126 | 106–120 | 125–132 | Denver | 135–111 | 111–121 | |
Brooklyn | 114–103 | 103–116 | 123–117 | Minnesota | 112–116 | 86–81 | |
New York | 100–83 | 96–102 | 103–120 | Oklahoma City | 112–106 | 103–113 | |
Philadelphia | 110–103 | 102–109 | 93–100 | Portland | 117–122 | 111–112 | |
Utah | 112–115 | 102–106 | |||||
3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | ||||
Division | 4–8 | Division | 3–7 | ||||
Central Division | Pacific Division | ||||||
Team | Home | Road | Team | Home | Road | ||
Chicago | 113–122 | 95–118 | 102–114 | Golden State | 130–77 | 105–106 | |
Cleveland | 112–96 | 105–116 | 135–115 | L.A. Clippers | 96–115 | 100–105 | |
Detroit | 105–129 | 112–116 | 104–118 | L.A. Lakers | 101–110 | 121–114 | |
Indiana | 113–125 | 107–102 | 114–129 | Phoenix | 100–104 | 115–123 | |
Milwaukee | 108–115 | 124–113 | 110–96 | Sacramento | 124–126 | 144–123 | |
1–4 | 4–6 | 1–4 | 2–3 | ||||
Division | 5–10 | Division | 3–7 | ||||
Southeast Division | Southwest Division | ||||||
Team | Home | Road | Team | Home | Road | ||
Atlanta | 120–121 | 103–108 | 121–132 | Dallas | 116–93 | 110–114 | |
Charlotte | 111–108 | 116–113 | 104–114 | Houston | 122–111 | 99–117 | |
Miami | 102–111 | 101–81 | 108–116 | Memphis | 99–109 | 128–113 | |
Orlando | 115–102 | 113–102 | 123–108 | New Orleans | 99–113 | 116–120 | |
Washington | 103–101 | 129–131* | 137–115 | San Antonio | 117–112 | 114–119 | |
6–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–4 | ||||
Division | 8–7 | Division | 4–6 | ||||
Conference | 17–25 (Home: 10–11; Road: 7–14) | Conference | 10–20 (Home: 6–9; Road: 4–11) | ||||
Overall | 27–45 (Home: 16–20; Road: 11–25) |
(* game decided in overtime)
Game log
Preseason
2020 pre-season game log Total: 2–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 2–0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
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2020–21 season schedule |
Regular season
2020–21 game log Total: 27–45 (Home: 16–20; Road: 11–25) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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December: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
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January: 7–9 (home: 5–4; road: 2–5)
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February: 9–5 (home: 2–2; road: 7–3)
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March: 1–13 (home: 1–5; road: 0–8)
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April: 8–7 (home: 7–4; road: 1–3)
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May: 1–8 (home: 0–4; road: 1–4)
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2020–21 season schedule |
Transactions
Overview
Players Added Via draft Via trade Via free agency |
Players Lost Via free agency Via trade Waived |
Trades
March 25, 2021[11] | To Toronto Raptors Gary Trent Jr. Rodney Hood |
To Portland Trail Blazers Norman Powell |
March 25, 2021[12] | To Toronto Raptors 2021 second-round pick (via Memphis Grizzlies) |
To Sacramento Kings Terence Davis |
March 25, 2021[13] | To Toronto Raptors 2021 second-round pick (via Golden State Warriors) |
To Utah Jazz Matt Thomas |
Re-signed
Date | Player | Contract terms | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
November 24 | Fred VanVleet | 4 year $85 million | [14] |
November 25 | Chris Boucher | 2 year $13.5 million | [15][16] |
December 1 | Oshae Brissett | 2 year minimum deal | [17][18] |
December 20 | Paul Watson | 1 year minimum deal | [19][20] |
Additions
Date | Player | Contract terms | Former team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
November 24 | Aron Baynes | 2 year $14.3 million | Phoenix Suns | [21][22] |
November 29 | DeAndre' Bembry | 2 year $4 million | Atlanta Hawks | [23][24] |
Alex Len | 1 year $2.3 million | Sacramento Kings | [25][26] | |
December 1 | Henry Ellenson | 2 year minimum deal | Brooklyn Nets | [18][27] |
Alize Johnson | 1 year (Exhibit 10) | Indiana Pacers | [18][28] | |
December 20 | Yuta Watanabe | Two-way contract | Memphis Grizzlies | [18][20][27][29] |
February 26 | Donta Hall | 10-day contract | NBA G League Ignite (G League) | [30] |
April 8 | Freddie Gillespie | Memphis Hustle (G League) | [31] | |
April 10 | Khem Birch | Signed for rest of season | Orlando Magic | [32] |
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason | New Team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
November 24 | Marc Gasol | Unrestricted free agent | Los Angeles Lakers | [33] |
November 25 | Serge Ibaka | Los Angeles Clippers | [34] | |
December 3 | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Minnesota Timberwolves | [35] | |
December 18 | Malcolm Miller | Utah Jazz | [36] | |
November 26 | Dewan Hernandez | Waived | Raptors 905 (G League) | [37] |
December 20 | Oshae Brissett | Fort Wayne Mad Ants (G League) | [20][38] | |
Alize Johnson | Brooklyn Nets | |||
Henry Ellenson | ||||
January 19 | Alex Len | Washington Wizards | [39] | |
March 8 | Donta Hall | 10-day contract expired | Orlando Magic | [30] |
April 9 | Patrick McCaw | Waived | [40] |
See also
- Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans Hornets, a previous event of an NBA team temporarily displaced, in this instance due to Hurricane Katrina
Notes
- Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.
References
- Maaddi, Rob (November 20, 2020). "Raptors to begin 2020-21 season in Tampa". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- Jamshidi, Soheil (February 11, 2021). "Raptors to finish 2020-21 season in Tampa". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- "Could NBA's Raptors call Bridgestone Arena home for the 2020-21 season?".
- "NBA rumors: Toronto Raptors to Newark's Prudential Center looking less likely as list of potential sites expands". Archived from the original on November 18, 2020.
- "Toronto Raptors to miss playoffs for first time since 2013". Sportsnet.ca. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- "HEAT ACQUIRE KYLE LOWRY". Miami Heat. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- "Raptors select Malachi Flynn with 29th pick in 2020 NBA Draft". Sportsnet.ca. November 18, 2020.
- "Raptors select Jalen Harris with pick No. 59 in 2020 NBA Draft". Sportsnet.ca. November 18, 2020.
- "Raptors' virus issues worsen, game vs. Bulls called off". NBA.com. February 28, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- "Detroit at Toronto game postponed, tentatively moved to Wednesday". NBA.com. March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- "TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE NORMAN POWELL FROM TORONTO RAPTORS". NBA.com. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- "Kings Acquire Terence Davis". NBA.com. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- "Utah Jazz Acquire Matt Thomas". NBA.com. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- "Fred VanVleet re-signs with Raptors | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Raptors Re-Sign Boucher". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Report: Chris Boucher to re-sign with Toronto Raptors on two-year deal". NBA.com Canada | The official site of the NBA. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Raptors' Oshae Brissett: Gets multi-year deal from Toronto". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Raptors Finalize 2020-2021 Training Camp Roster". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- "Toronto Raptors finalize opening-night roster for 2020-21 NBA season". ca.nba.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- "Raptors Sign Watson & Watanabe". NBA.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- "Raptors Sign Baynes". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Raptors sign Baynes, Boucher to 2-year deals". ESPN.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "Raptors Sign Bembry". Toronto Raptors.
- "Report: Raptors add bench depth by signing DeAndre' Bembry". Sportsnet.ca.
- "Raptors Sign Len". Toronto Raptors.
- "CP Source: Raptors agree to deal with free-agent centre Alex Len". Sportsnet.ca.
- "Report: Toronto Raptors add Henry Ellenson, Yuta Watanabe and Alize Johnson to training camp roster". NBA.ca.
- "Report: Raptors agree to deal with forward Alize Johnson". Sportsnet.ca.
- "Yuta Watanabe, the NBA's second Japanese player, makes the Raptors after training camp". bardown.ca. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- "Raptors Sign Hall To 10-Day Contract". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- "Raptors Sign Gillespie To 10-Day Contract". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- "Raptors Sign Birch". Toronto Raptors. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- "Veteran center Marc Gasol signs with Lakers | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "LA Clippers Sign Forward/Center Serge Ibaka | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- "TIMBERWOLVES SIGN RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- "Jazz Sign Yogi Ferrell and Malcolm Miller". www.nba.com/jazz/. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- "Raptors waive centre Dewan Hernandez, open up additional roster spot". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- "Raptors waive Brissett, Ellenson, Johnson ahead of regular season". Sportsnet. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- "Raptors waive veteran centre Len". TSN.ca. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- "Patrick McCaw: Waived by Raptors". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2021.